The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 02:54, 31 January 2009
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Restorationist |
| Orientation | Latter Day Saint movement |
| Polity | Hierarchical |
| Leader | Thomas S. Monson |
| Region | 176 nations/territories |
| Founder | Joseph Smith, Jr. |
| Separations | LDS denominations |
| Congregations | 27,827 |
| Members | 13,193,999[1] |
| Missionaries | 52,686[1] |
| Tertiary institutions | 4[2] |
| Official website | www.lds.org |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest denomination originating from the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr., on April 6, 1830. The Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations (called wards) and temples worldwide and reports just over 13 million members on its rolls.[1][4][5] It is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States[6][7]
Adherents—usually referred to as Latter-day Saints, LDS, or Mormons—are Restorationist Christians and are not a part of the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church or any of the varied Protestant traditions. The Church teaches that sometime after the events depicted in the New Testament, there was a Great Apostasy, or loss of authority to lead Christ's Church, to preach the gospel as proclaimed by Jesus and his followers, and to administer the ordinances (sacraments) of the original Church set up by Jesus and his adherents and those who became adherents at that time. Because people relied on their own knowledge to understand the teachings of Christ and the will of God, the fullness of Jesus Christ's gospel, his teachings, was lost from the earth.
Jesus Christ is viewed as the head of the Church, leading it now through revelation to the hierarchy of priesthood leaders to whom authority, that authority members believe to have been given to his apostles, has been restored. The president of the Church, who is considered to be a prophet and an apostle, guides the Church and its members.
The Church teaches that four authoritative books of scripture contain the word of God:[8] the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
According to Church teachings, Jesus is the divine son of God the Father, delivered to the earth by the Virgin Mary.[9] LDS doctrine teaches that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, that he suffered at Gethsemane and bled from every pore, was crucified making an atonement for the sins of all humanity, rose the third day, ascended to sit on the right hand of his father, and will return again.[10] The Church teaches that Jesus is one with his father in all things, but that the father (God) and his son are distinct beings of flesh and bone, rather than solely spirit.
The Church also distinguishes itself from other Christian denominations by its practice of temple ordinances, eternal marriage, and teaching that Jesus visited and preached in the Americas after his resurrection, as related in the Book of Mormon.
History
The LDS Church is overwhelmingly the largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement, established by Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830 in New York.[11] Smith organized the Church soon after publishing the Book of Mormon, one of the faith's scriptures, which he said he had translated from plates of gold that were buried near his house in a place shown to him by the angel Moroni.[12]
The Church rapidly gained a following, who viewed Smith as their prophet. In late 1830, Smith envisioned a "city of Zion" a Utopia type city in Native American lands near Independence, Missouri. In October 1830, he sent his Assistant President, Oliver Cowdery, and others on a mission to the area.[13] Passing through Kirtland, Ohio, the missionaries converted a congregation of Disciples of Christ led by Sidney Rigdon, and in 1831, Smith decided to temporarily move his followers to Kirtland until lands in the Missouri area could be purchased. In the meantime, the Church's headquarters remained in Kirtland from 1831 to 1838; and there the Church built its first temple and continued to grow in membership from 680 to 17,881.[14]
On July 20, 1831, Smith circulated a written revelation that Independence, Missouri, was to be the center place for the city of Zion.[15] Though many of Smith's followers attempted to settle in Missouri throughout the 1830s and Smith himself moved there in 1838, the Church faced political and military opposition from other Missouri settlers. The issue of slavery began to affect the members of the Church. Missouri had been admitted into the United States union as a slave state under the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Mormons immigrating to the state from the anti-slavery northeast were viewed with deep distrust. By 1832 it was rumored that Mormons were inciting slaves to rise up against their masters. The article "Free People of Color" in a Church newspaper was interpreted as threatening to the slave system, which was the heart of the whole social structure of the state.[16] After a series of raids on Mormon settlements, the Church formed its own militia to defend its members and the 1838 Mormon War ensued, culminating in believers' in the religion being expelled from the state under an Extermination Order signed by the governor of Missouri.
Eventually the Church purchased new lands and established its headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois, a city they built on drained swampland by the Mississippi River and in which Smith served as mayor. There the Church built a new temple and thrived. In December 1840 the affirmative vote of Abraham Lincoln, then serving in the Illinois House of Representatives helped to pass the Nauvoo Charter into law. It gave the city the right to establish the University of Nauvoo, the Nauvoo Legion, a municipal court with power to issue writs of habeas corpus, and a city council with a mayor, the council being allowed to serve as associate justices and chief justice, etc.[17] At its peak, the population of Nauvoo reached about 15,000.[18] This exceeded the population of Chicago, which in 1840 was 4,470.[19]
.
On June 7, 1844 an anti-Mormon newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor was published in the city by William Law, a former church leader and confidant of Joseph Smith's. It negatively depicted the religious and political life of the city, asserting Joseph Smith's involvement with plural marriage and coercing women into the practice, among other things, and angered the local residents who disputed its assertions. On Monday, June 10, after 14 hours of deliberation, the city council resolved that the Nauvoo Expositor and its printing office were a “disturber of the peace” and “a public nuisance” and should be “removed without delay.” The Nauvoo Legion destroyed the press, type, and paper in two hours. The event pleased local residents and aroused anti-Mormon sentiments in surrounding communities. Legal charges, arrest warrants, and the incarceration of Joseph Smith resulted.[20]
Under the promised protection of Thomas Ford, the governor of the state, Joseph went to the city of Carthage, the county seat of Hancock County, about 30 miles southeast of Nauvoo. While awaiting trial, he and his brother Hyrum, who was serving as assistant president and patriarch of the Church, were held in the local jail. On June 27, 1844, at 5:00 pm, in spite of the promised protection by Governor Ford, an armed mob was allowed to enter the jail and shot and killed both Joseph and Hyrum and wounded Dr. Willard Richards and John Taylor, who were in jail with them.[21] Two years later the Mormons were forcibly expelled from the state. (On March 24, 2004, the legislature of the State of Illinois issued a formal expression of regret to the Church for the expulsion and delivered it at a press conference at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 7, 2004)[22]
After the Smiths' deaths, a succession crisis ensued. In this crisis a number of Church leaders campaigned to lead the Church. The majority of adherents voted to accept the succession claims presented by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led by Brigham Young. Their claim was based on a March 1844 meeting in which Joseph committed the "keys of the kingdom" to the twelve apostles with Young as their leader.
Western migration
After continued difficulties and persecution in Illinois, Young left Nauvoo in 1846 and led his followers to the Great Salt Lake Valley (then part of Mexico but by 1848 part of the United States) in search of religious freedom.[23] The group branched out in an effort to pioneer a large state to be called the Deseret, eventually establishing colonies from Canada to present-day Mexico.
In 1850 the U.S. Congress dismissed the State of Deseret plan and instead established a much smaller territory around the Great Salt Lake named the Territory of Utah. Young incorporated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a legal entity under the laws of the territory. He initially governed his followers as a theocratic leader serving in both political and religious positions. Negotiations between the United States and the Latter-day Saint hierarchy resulted in a full pardon for the Mormons, the transfer of Utah's governorship from the Church President Brigham Young to non-Mormon Alfred Cumming, and the peaceful entrance of the army into Utah. Young still wielded significant political power as President of the Church.[citation needed]
Young was followed by other powerful members, who followed the dictates of their faith in the face of U.S. efforts to outlaw Mormon polygamous marriages. As the political power of the U.S. moved west, the political and legal wrangling over the polygamy issue escalated. In 1890 Church president Wilford Woodruff (successor to John Taylor) issued a Manifesto that officially suspended the practice.[24] Relations with the United States markedly improved after 1890, and especially after 1904, when Church president Joseph F. Smith disavowed polygamy before the United States Congress and issued a "Second Manifesto" calling for all illegal marriages in the Church to cease. Eventually, the Church adopted a policy of excommunicating its members found practicing polygamy and today seeks to actively distance itself from “fundamentalist” groups still practicing polygamy.[25]
21st century
During the twentieth century, the Church grew substantially. In the year 2000 the Church reported 60,784 missionaries,[26] and global Church membership stood at 11,068,861.[26] As of 2007, membership had reached 13,193,999.[27]
The Church has at times played a prominent role in political matters, including opposition to MX Peacekeeper missile bases in Utah and Nevada,[28] opposing the Equal Rights Amendment,[29] opposing legalized gambling,[30] support of bans on same-sex marriage,[31] and opposition to legalized physician-assisted death.[32] Apart from issues that it considers to be ones of morality, however, the Church maintains a position of political neutrality.[33]
Teachings and practices
The LDS Church has some teachings in common with Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions, such as a belief that Jesus is the Divine Son of God the Father, delivered to the earth by the Virgin Mary.[34] The Church teaches that Jesus lived a sinless life, and that his suffering at Gethsemane, the shedding of his blood, his crucifixion, his death and resurrection were sufficient to satisfy the demands of eternal justice and make an infinite atonement for the sins of all humanity.[10] It teaches a belief in Jesus' literal bodily resurrection, and that he currently sits at the right hand of God the Father. The Church's core teachings, circa 1842, are discussed in Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints), and delineate the "first principles and ordinances of the gospel" as faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sin, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.[35] However, there are also significant differences. Perhaps the most distinct difference between the LDS Church and other faiths is the belief that its founder Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet who received a visitation from God the Father and Jesus Christ (known as the First Vision), and was directed to translate what became known as the Book of Mormon, a volume of scripture that testifies that Jesus is the Christ and stands with the Bible to testify of this truth.
The Godhead
The Church teaches that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are "one Godhead" but three separate persons:
- a) They are one God collectively, but are three separate beings. (Alma 11:44) (Doctrine and Covenants 20:28)
- b) They are one in spirit, mind and purpose (agreed in one).[36]
- c) In accordance with biblical terms, the LDS Church uses the word "Godhead" as found in the KJV in Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; and Colossians 2:9. In the Latter-day Saint view of the Godhead, three distinct beings (D&C 130:22) are united in the same sense Christ admonished His followers to be one, united in philosophy, spirit, and purpose with Him, as He states in John 17:11. Christ is the Son because He was born in the flesh as the Son of the Father. He is also the designated Agent of the Father, the Mediator between Man and God.(John 3:34-35; D&C 93:2-17) Having received of the fullness of the Father, and able to bind the Father covenantly, Christ becomes the Father of the faithful to those who repent, or are born again of His Spirit, thus being both the Father and the Son, as Mosiah 15:1-5 explains.[37]
Three distinct beings
The Church's view of the Godhead breaks with Nicene Christian tradition.[38] The LDS Church asserts that it is self-evident in the Bible that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings as illustrated in the Savior’s great Intercessory Prayer, his baptism at the hands of John, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen.[38] The evidence is further exemplified in Jesus' words, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.”[10] and, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”[11] and "they have … seen and hated both me and my Father.”[12] and, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”[13] “My father is greater than I.”[14]
God the Father
God the Father is understood to be the literal Father of the spirits of all mankind.[39][40] He is also understood to be the Father of Jesus' spirit body and his physical body.
Jesus Christ
According to the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ is considered the "the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary."[41] As the Creator, he is at times referred to as the father of heaven and earth. This is one sense in which he shares the title "Father" with his father. The Church also teaches that those who accept Christ and are baptized are symbolically born again and become the children of Christ.[42] The Church teaches that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.[43] Christ's divinity[44] enabled him to take upon himself the penalty for sin and to endure the consequential suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross that paid for the sins of humanity since the Fall of Adam.[45] Thus, having satisfied the demands of justice,[46] Christ offers mercy to mankind in two general forms: unconditional (all will be resurrected),[47] and conditional (those who believe in Christ, repent of sin,[48] and are baptized, “the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God")[49] This Atonement however is also believed to cover not only sin, but all pain, suffering, heart ache, or hardship experienced in this life.[50] Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus' status as the son of a mortal woman (Mary) gave him the ability to suffer temptation (yet he did not succumb to it[51]) and experience physical death; while his status as the Son of God gave him the power to lay down and take up his life again at will. The Church also believes in the physical resurrection of Jesus' body.[52] Because of its emphasis on Jesus' resurrection and his status as the living head of the Church, the Church does not use the symbol of the Christian cross except on the uniforms of military chaplains. Instead, the Church tends to focus on the belief that Jesus overcame suffering and death and that he lives today.
The Church follows what it understands to be the teachings of Jesus, both in the Bible and in other scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon. The Church also teaches that Jesus is the LORD Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Holy One of Israel. Because he has the "Divine Investiture of Authority" from the Father, the Church teaches that Jesus Christ often speaks in the scriptures as though he were God the Father, because in so doing he is representing the Father.[53][54]
Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is a personage, though he does not yet have a physical body as do Jesus Christ and God the Father. He is regarded as "a being endowed with the attributes and powers of Deity and not a mere force or essence."[55] He testifies of the Father and the Son,[56] and can sanctify people enabling them "to put off the natural man and [become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord"[57] The Holy Ghost is considered the "comforter" mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament.[58]
Other heavenly figures
LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow expressed the nature of the Father in his couplet, "As man is, God once was—and as God is, man may become"—differing somewhat from the traditional Christian idea of theosis. Exaltation is a belief among members of the LDS Church that mankind, as spirit children of their Father in heaven, can become like Him.
Official Church materials refer to "Heavenly Parents," implying to some the existence of a Heavenly Mother.[59] Belief in such a figure is common among members, and she has been mentioned in meetings by Church officials[60][61] and alluded to in two of the hymns of the Church.[62] However, very little on the subject of a Heavenly Mother has been taught by the Church.
Apostasy and restoration
In common with other Restorationist Churches, the Church believes in a Great Apostasy. It teaches that after the death of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, the priesthood authority was lost and some important doctrinal teachings, including the text of the Bible, were changed from their original form, thus necessitating a Restoration prior to the Second Coming. That restoration, according to Church doctrine, began during the life of Joseph Smith, Jr.
According to Church theology, the restoration began through a series of visions and revelations, including Smith's First Vision in 1820, visits by various angelic messengers including Moroni from whom he received "the everlasting gospel."[63] It is also taught that he was visited by John the Baptist, Moses, Elijah, and the apostles Peter, James and John. Both Smith and Oliver Cowdery testified that these last messengers came to them while they were together and conferred upon them the priesthood authority with its various "keys", so that mankind again possessed the "fullness of the Gospel" with authority to administer in the ordinances thereof.[64] The restoration also included the re-establishment of the original Church of Christ on April 6, 1830. The LDS Church teaches that it is the successor of this Church of Christ, that Smith was the successor to Peter, and that the current President of the Church is Smith's modern successor.
Ordinances
Latter-day Saint sacraments are called ordinances, of which there are two types: saving ordinances and non-saving ordinances. All ordinances, whether saving or non-saving, must be performed by a man ordained to the appropriate priesthood office, with the exception of certain parts of the temple Endowment and the initiatory or washings and anointings, in which men and women are separated, and women administer the ordinances for women, and men administer the ordinances for men. However, both men and women must be "set apart", or authorized and "blessed by the laying on of hands" by those who have proper authority before serving as temple ordinance workers.
Saving ordinances are those that are required for salvation or exaltation, and include baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (confirmation of membership in the Church of Jesus Christ), with the "sacrament" of the Lord's supper, taken each Sunday, to keep in remembrance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and to renew the covenants made at baptism, ordination to an office of the priesthood (for males), the initiatory or washings and anointings, the Endowment, celestial marriage, and family sealings. Each saving ordinance is associated with one or more covenant that the person receiving the ordinance makes with God, and one or more blessing that God promises to the recipient.[65][66]
Three primary covenants are administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the heading “new and everlasting covenant,” called “new” because they have been restored again and “everlasting” because they are eternal with God. [67] Specifically, they are the gospel, or baptismal covenant; the priesthood covenant; and the marriage covenant. The latter two are administered in the temple. Each covenant, or “contract,” between God and Man has one or more pre-requisites, offers one or more rewards, and specifies punishment for breaking it.
The first, the gospel covenant, is entered into after the sincere communicant fulfills the pre-requisite of exercising faith in Christ, repents of his sins, is baptized by proper authority, receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, and promises to endure to the end of his mortal life continuing to exercise faith in Christ and repentance from his sins. He also agrees to stand as a witness for Christ at all times and in all places, and bear the burdens of his fellow servants. (Mosiah 18:9) The scriptures are replete with references to all these gospel elements. (3 Nephi 27:13-22) The covenant maker receives the reward of the gift of the Holy Ghost, receives membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, receives forgiveness of sins, peace of conscience, a rebirth of the Spirit ( Mosiah 4:1-13), grace, a hope in Christ, salvation or eternal life, and the joy of the saints. [68] The punishment for breaking the covenant is perdition.(Heb. 10:25-31,39) The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or partaking of bread and wine instituted by Jesus, is in remembrance of this covenant, in remembrance of His blood, or atonement for sins, and His resurrection, or body. [69] The “milk” of the kingdom of God has to do with learning of and keeping this gospel covenant. The “meat” is “going on unto perfection,” or entering into subsequent covenants, to obtain a fullness of the life God leads. (Heb. 5:11-14; 6:1-4; John 17:3)
Latter-Day Saints believe the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a God of covenants.[70] In return for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s faith and obedience, God promised them (1) a numberless posterity, (2) a chosen land, and (3) the blessing of all nations through their posterity and the priesthood of their posterity, the “blessings of heaven.”[71] God promised Jacob’s son, Joseph, additional blessings, a special land and a righteous branch to be separated from the rest of the house of Israel. (Gen. 48; 49:22-26) Even later, promises and assurances were given through Moses and other prophets that, even though all Israel should be scattered and many persecuted, the earlier promises would not be forgotten, and a day of restoration and gathering would come in which all the tribes of Israel would be united in peace under the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Book of Mormon is a witness to the truth of these promises, and it is an assurance that more of them will not be left unfulfilled. [72]
The Church teaches there are three rewards or degrees of glory in the heavenly world (1 Cor. 15:29,40-42; D&C 76:12+; 131:1-4), and that to obtain the highest degree of salvation (referred to as "exaltation" in the celestial kingdom), all people who have lived to the age of eight must participate in each of the saving ordinances. However, the Church teaches that they may be performed for a person either during their lifetime or by proxy after the person has died.[73] Therefore, Church members participate in the saving ordinances on behalf of dead relatives and others whose names have been extracted from historical records. The performance of these proxy ordinances are one of the functions of the Church's temples.
All the saving ordinances are currently open to all worthy Church members of the appropriate age. Prior to 1978, black members were restricted from some of the priesthood ordinances, but this policy was changed in 1978.[74] Celestial marriage is open to one man and one woman at a time, but a widower may enter a second celestial marriage.
Apart from sealings to parents, the Church does not perform saving ordinances for those younger than age eight or for those who have died before the age of eight (when children reach the "age of accountability"), because young children are deemed "alive in Christ" and not responsible for sin.[75] Likewise, the Church teaches that the saving ordinances are not required for persons age eight or older who are "mentally incapable of knowing right and wrong".[76] They are saved by the grace and mercy of Christ without baptism and will inherit the Celestial Kingdom of God.[77]
Non-saving ordinances include the dedication of graves, the dedication of buildings, the prayer circle, the Hosanna shout, shaking the dust from the feet, and various kinds of blessings, including the patriarchal blessing.
Plan of Salvation
The plan of salvation or gospel of Christ is a series of steps, a continuum, or means to come to God through the mediation of the Messiah. It comprises those teachings of Christ which enable a mortal man or woman to overcome the fall of Adam in his or her life, and ultimately return to the presence of God, to enjoy the life of the Great Eternal God, or, more succinctily, eternal life. The specific teachings include the fact that Adam fell, becoming subject to the temptations of the devil, bringing upon himself and his posterity both physical death and spiritual death, separating himself and them from God. As a remedy for Adam's predicament, consistent with His own nature and objective to produce Divine heirs, God gave Adam and his posterity the moral agency to (1) follow and serve Christ, or (2) follow and serve the devil (Mosiah 16). To overcome the lasting effects of the fall, Christ offered Himself an infinite sacrifice for the sins of all those willing to repent and enter into a covenant with Him, trusting in His righteousness or merits for salvation (Alma 22:14; Moroni 6:4), while all the rest must depend on their own good works for salvation, or answer the ends of the law themselves, falling short of the glory of God.(2 Nephi 2:1+; Rom. 10:4) Furthermore, Christ brought about the universal resurrection of all men and women, as they were not responsible for the fall, leaving them to account only for their own deeds in the flesh. ("Articles of Faith," No. 2; Alma 11:41-46)
Also, as the Agent of the Father and Judge of all, Christ is able to be both merciful and just (John 5:22; Romans 2:16). To obtain His mercy, or be saved from His wrath, or indigation, on the day of judgment, men and women must (1) have faith in Christ, (2) repent of their sins, (3) be baptized by one of His authorized agents in water in the likeness of His burial, to come forth born again of the Spirit, (4) receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, again by an authorized servant of God bearing His priesthood, and (5) endure in faith in Christ and repentance from sins to the end of their mortal lives. This is the only gospel ever taught by Jesus, and is imparted in the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and most plainly in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, whose purpose is to "convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ," as stated on the Title Page. (see also 2 Nephi 25:24-30; "Articles of Faith," 1-13)
Multiple scriptural names for this limited and oft-repeated body of teachings are: gospel of Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 27:13-22), doctrine of Christ (3 Nephi 11:31-41), plan of salvation, plan of redemption (Alma 11:40-41), words of eternal life (John 6:68), gospel of repentance, gospel of baptism, gospel of salvation, good tidings (Isa.52:7), our report (Isa. 53:1), gospel of the kingdom (Matt.24:14), good tidings of great joy (Luke 2:10), gospel of the grace of God (Acts 2:24), gospel of peace (Rom. 10:15), "good news," and other equivalent names. Once a man or woman has obeyed the first principles of the gospel, the milk of the kingdom, he or she must press forward, feasting on the words of Christ, going on unto perfection, or seeking the meat of the kingdom, much of which has to do with the temple and a comprehensive understanding of the life God leads.(Hebrews 5:12-4; 6:1-3)[1]
The plan of salvation, or "The Great Plan of Happiness," as taught by the Church, describes humanity's place in the universe and the purpose of life. The Church teaches that there was a pre-mortal existence, a place which existed prior to mortality in which all people and all life were created in spirit form.[78][79] Central to this is the notion that humans existed as spirits before birth, were raised by Heavenly Parents and had essential human characteristics such as gender.[80] This general idea is also stated as "We lived in the presence of God."[81][82]
During the pre-earth life, Heavenly Father presented a plan to have a Savior make it possible for mankind to be saved. The purpose of an earth life was to give men the opportunity to demonstrate obedience to the commandments of God while outside of His presence. This is the central test of the evolution or eternal progression of man to godhood. Jesus Christ stepped forward as the chosen Savior. However, Lucifer, one of the spirits, proposed a rival plan whereby every soul would be saved, he would receive God's glory, and human agency would be eliminated.[83][84] When God rejected that plan, the War in Heaven ensued, resulting in Lucifer and one third part of the spirits being cast out and denied ever receiving physical bodies. Lucifer became the devil.[85]
The earth, according to Church teachings, was created by Jehovah, which the Church identifies as the pre-mortal Jesus, and Michael the archangel, who is identified as the pre-mortal Adam. The earth was "organized" from pre-existing matter,[86] as were other planets with their inhabitants.[87] Michael's spirit was placed into his body which was created by God the Father and Jehovah, and became a living soul known as Adam.
The Church teaches that at birth, a pre-existing spirit enters a mortal body. Upon death, the spirit goes to a "spirit world" to await the resurrection of the dead. Those who are righteous "are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" [15] A place called spirit prison is reserved for "those who [have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets" [16]. Those in "prison" will be visited by spirits from paradise and given the chance to learn of the teachings of Jesus Christ and to accept the accompanying saving ordinances.[88] The Church teaches that all persons, wicked or righteous, will be resurrected and receive an immortal, physical body.[89] The nature of that body, however, will depend on the result of the Last Judgment, at which Jesus will assign each soul to one of three degrees of glory (heavenly kingdoms): the celestial kingdom in the presence of the Father and the Son for those who accept Jesus Christ and receive all LDS saving ordinances, either as a mortal or by proxy; the terrestrial kingdom, a place of glory in the presence of Christ for righteous persons who refuse to receive the saving ordinances and for those who do not keep the covenants they commit to; and the telestial kingdom for the wicked. A further destination, called outer darkness, is reserved for Satan, his devils, and those mortals who commit the unpardonable sin and thereby become the sons of perdition.[90] Those who are ultimately destined for the telestial kingdom will be those who suffer for their sins in hell; however, these persons remain in hell only the 1000 years during the millennial reign of Christ, after which they will exit hell and be resurrected with an immortal body into a state of peace.[90]
Those in the Celestial Kingdom will be allowed to continue to progress and become joint heirs with Jesus Christ;[91] but only individuals that are in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom will eventually be enabled in eternity to become gods and goddesses and participate in the eternal creative process of having spirit children.[92]
History and eschatology
The Church's view of history is informed by the faith's scriptures. LDS history begins with the creation according to Genesis, but has never endorsed any particular form of creationism. Though it does not officially oppose any particular findings of natural history, the Church regards Adam as the first "primal parent of the [human] race".[93]
According to teachings in the Book of Mormon, the Americas are a special location reserved by God for those who love freedom and freedom of religion. According to Joseph Smith, what is now Jackson County, Missouri was the location of the Garden of Eden and will be the location of the future New Jerusalem, and God has led numerous groups to the western hemisphere in search of freedom,[94] including several groups of ancestors to the Native Americans whose stories are told in the Book of Mormon.
The Church also teaches an expansive view of God's covenant with Abraham, which Joseph Smith taught extends not just to Jews, but to the ancient Church, and Latter-day Saints as well, who in most cases are declared by their patriarchal blessings to be either literal descendants of Abraham, or adopted into the family of Abraham through one of the tribes of Israel, often the Tribe of Ephraim. Native Americans are sometimes declared to be descended from the Tribe of Manasseh based on the teachings of the Book of Mormon that some descendants of this tribe, the family of Lehi, left Jerusalem and crossed the ocean in a ship about 600 B.C. and landed in what today is called the Americas.[95]
The Church teaches that in the future, the Second Coming of Jesus will occur, followed by a thousand years of peace. Distinctive within Latter-day millennialism, however, is the idea that Jesus will reign "personally upon the earth" from two locations: one that is presently within the United States,[96] and Jerusalem in Old Canaan to direct the worship and government or governments that will exist.[97][98] As the earth transitions into the Millennial period, only those good and honorable people who stand to inherit the celestial kingdom or the terrestrial kingdom will continue on the earth. During the millennium the Latter-day Saints will continue to proselytize among the living and perform ordinances for the dead. After the millennium will come a final great confrontation of good versus evil, and then the Last Judgment.[99]
Genealogical or family history research is an important aspect of Latter-day Saint tradition, stemming from a doctrinal mandate for church members to research their family tree and perform vicarious ordinances for their ancestors. Mormons believe that these ordinances "seal" or link families together, with the goal being an unbroken chain back to Adam. Church members are able to do genealogical work in various Family History Centers located throughout the world usually in Latter-day Saint chapels. The advent of personal computers prompted the Church to create a specialized file format known as GEDCOM for storing and exchanging these records. Since then, GEDCOM has become a de facto standard that almost all genealogy programs support.
Theology of family and gender
The LDS Church has been characterized as a family-centered religion. The Church teaches that every being that lived upon the earth initially had a spirit body and that all were born to Heavenly Parents in a pre-mortal existence.[100] The Church teaches that on earth, families may be "sealed"—meaning that they are eternally bound as husband–wife, parents–child—and that these bonds will continue after death.[101] Sealings can also include deceased ancestors, providing much of the Church's rationale for its extensive family history activities. Members tend more often to be married, and have families with more children, than members of other Christian traditions.[102]
The Church also teaches that each person's gender is eternal and that each gender has roles and duties in the family that are ordained by God. The Church teaches that "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."[100] Some have characterized this view of the man-woman relationship as "equal but different".[103] Nevertheless, LDS women in the United States work outside the home in about the same percentage as other American women.[104] The Church teaches that gender is inherently linked to sex, but the Church has no official policy on the status of intersex persons. Transgender persons are accepted in the Church and may be baptized, but may not receive the priesthood or enter the temple if they are considering or have undergone elective sex reassignment surgery.[105]
The status of women in Church leadership has remained largely unchanged since the early 1900s. Although they are not ordained to the priesthood, preaching and instruction by women is an integral part of weekly Latter-day Saint worship. Certain leadership positions are filled only by women, and in some of the Church's auxiliary organizations women may preside over men, such as in the Primary, in welfare programs, on activities committees, and at a Family History Library. Since the 1840s, women have officiated in certain ordinances that take place inside temples.[106]
Law of chastity
The Church teaches what it calls the law of chastity, a moral code that its members must follow to be in good standing with the Church. At its core, the law of chastity prohibits pre-marital sex and adultery,[107] which includes gay and lesbian sex. The law also prohibits other sexual behavior, such as masturbation and bestiality, as well as mental behavior such as lust, sexual fantasy, and viewing of pornography.[108] Emphasis on the law of chastity appears to lead to a lower rate of pre-marital sex among LDS youth in the US.[109]
The Church encourages members to enter a celestial marriage, the only form of marriage recognized by the Church as a sacrament and "the only due and proper way of joining husband and wife".[110] For purposes of the law of chastity, however, the Church presently recognizes only civil unions that are considered "legal and lawful" by the government where it takes place, with certain exceptions including same-sex marriage, polygamous marriage, common law marriage, and other types of non-ceremonial marriages in non-common law countries.[111]
In countries where celestial marriage is not recognized by the government, it must be preceded by a civil marriage. The Church's teachings are ambiguous about the scope of allowable sexual behavior between legally married couples. Some Church leaders have taught that oral sex and anal sex are sinful, even as part of a marriage relationship,[112][113] but there are no policies on these issues that are enforced in the Church. Sexual activity outside of marriage may result in Church discipline, including a possible excommunication, in which a member loses his or her Church membership and privileges but may continue to attend meetings.[114] In most instances, the Church strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control among married couples.[115]
LGBT members of the Church are expected to keep the law of chastity.[116][117] If they do, they can “go forward as do all other members of the Church.”[116] If they desire to enter into a heterosexual marriage, they should first learn to deal with their homosexual feelings; otherwise, they must remain celibate.[118] Gay or lesbian sex, in any form, whether the participants are married or not, may be grounds for excommunication.
The Church has supported a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and polygamous marriage in the United States and has stated that it "favors measures that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman and that do not confer legal status on any other sexual relationship."[119] The Church's position is that government recognition of such rights will "undermine the divinely created institution of the family".[119][120]
Worship
The Church provides several kinds of services and gatherings for participation by members and non-members, including weekly services on Sunday, periodic conferences such as the semi-annual general conference, and ritual services at the Church's temples (for members only). All persons, regardless of their beliefs or standing in or out of the Church, are welcome to attend normal Church services and conferences.[121] Women usually attend worship services wearing skirts or dresses, while men typically wear suits or dress shirts and ties. Children are also typically in their "Sunday best."[122]
The Church holds its normal worship services on Sunday[123] during a three-hour block composed of three meetings: sacrament meeting, which features the Church's weekly sacrament (Eucharist) ritual and sermons by various selected members; Sunday School, featuring a lesson on various scriptural topics; and finally, each participant is assigned a meeting based on their age and sex, which could include a meeting of priesthood holders for males aged 12 and up separated into age-specific quorums, Relief Society for adult women, and a meeting of the Young Women Organization for adolescent females. During the second and third hours, children participate in activities of the Primary. Periodically, members participate in local, regional, and general Church-wide conferences in lieu of Sunday services. The general conference is broadcast semi-annually (April and October) from Salt Lake City, Utah. The 2008 general conference was broadcast live through the Internet April 5 and 6 on www.lds.org and was of particular significance in that a new president of the Church was presented for a sustaining vote, in what is called a Solemn assembly.[124]
The Church also provides ritual services at its temples, which are open only to members of the appropriate age who meet standards of orthodoxy and worthiness. Members are encouraged to attend the temples regularly, where they usually participate in the Endowment, sealing, washing and anointing, and other ordinances, most often by proxy for the dead.
Church member activities
For members of the Church, the greatest commandment is to love God with all their heart and the second is to love others as they love themselves. All other commandments are considered appendages to these great commandments.(Matt 22:37-40) In addition, they have a high degree of participation in religious activities outside of worship services. Members are expected or encouraged to pray frequently (several times a day), perform good works, and read scriptures daily.
Members are expected to donate their time, money, and talents to the Church, as necessity and responsibility dictates. To be in good standing with the Church, and to enter the Church's temples, Church members are asked to tithe their income to the Church, which is usually interpreted as 10% of income. In addition, members are asked to go without food and drink for two consecutive meals one Sunday per month, and to donate charitable "fast offerings" (at least the equivalent cost of those two meals), which are used to help the needy, regardless of whether or not they are Church members. They are also encouraged to make other humanitarian donations when necessary, as in the case of an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, etc., and to assist in relief efforts as they are able. This is considered a primary mission of the Church, as described by President Gordon B. Hinckley in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, when he said "So long as this church has any resources, those resources will be made available to those in need, anywhere in the world."
In addition to attending the weekly three-hour Church services, members are usually given "callings" or assignments in the Church, and often attend various other meetings or activities throughout the week relating to that calling. Members in good standing are assigned to visit the homes of other members monthly as "home teachers" (men) or "visiting teachers" (women). Members are also expected to engage in missionary work, family history research, to conduct a Family Home Evening weekly with their family, and to attend the temple regularly. Church members are encouraged to live self-sufficiently and avoid unnecessary debt.[125] All male members are expected to serve a two-year mission at the age of 19, though there are high standards of worthiness and physical and mental health that prohibit many men from serving. Women may optionally serve a mission if they are over the age of 21 and not married, as may older married couples. Women serve a mission for a period of only eighteen months compared to two years for men. Many members also choose to participate in ward or stake choir, with a select group also participating in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which received a Grammy for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," an Emmy award for the television program "Christmas Sampler," and the Peabody Award for its CBS production "Let Freedom Ring". The Choir has also been recognized for producing five gold and two platinum records.[126][127]
Good standing in the Church requires that members follow the "Word of Wisdom"[128] (a health code given by Joseph Smith which the Church interprets as requiring abstinence from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, coffee, tea, and the use of drugs), though exceptions for any of the above are made if taken on the advice of a competent medical professional. Members must also obey the law of chastity (the Church's code for modesty and allowable forms of sexuality), and are strongly counseled against choosing an elective abortion, except in the cases of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, a pregnancy that seriously jeopardizes the life or health of the mother, or a pregnancy where a physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.[129] In general, members must obey the law of the country in which they live and visit, although there have been notable exceptions.[130] The Church discourages gambling in all forms, including lotteries.[131]
Church members who commit what are considered serious violations of the standards of the Church (defined as, without limitation, "attempted murder, rape, sexual abuse, spouse abuse, intentional serious physical injury of others, adultery, fornication, homosexual relations, deliberate abandonment of family responsibilities, robbery, burglary, theft, embezzlement, sale of illegal drugs, fraud, perjury, and false swearing"[132]) may be subject to Church disciplinary action, including disfellowshipment or even excommunication, although excommunication is generally reserved for the more extreme of the above transgressions. Such individuals are encouraged to continue attending Church services, but are not permitted to hold Church responsibilities or offer public prayer at any Church meeting (although personal prayer is encouraged); excommunicated members are also prohibited from paying tithing or fast offerings. Other members are frequently unaware of the status of such individuals.[133] Everyone is welcome to attend the public meetings of the Church, whether or not they adhere to the Church's lifestyle code.
Sacred texts
The Church's canon of sacred texts consists of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. These are more commonly referred to as the Church's Standard Works. Though not canonical, many members of the Church also accept the teachings and pronouncements of the Church's general authorities—and in particular those of the President of the Church—as doctrine, and complementing the Standard Works.
The Church accepts the Holy Bible as the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.[134] Joseph Smith wrote, "I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers".[135] The LDS Church uses the King James Version (KJV) or translation for its English speaking members and other translations to accommodate alternative languages. Joseph Smith did work on his own translation, but it is only used in conjunction with the KJV. Two extracts of his translation can be found in the Pearl of Great Price, called the Book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew.[136][137] The Church regards parts of the Apocrypha,[138] the writings of some Protestant Reformers and non-Christian religious leaders, and the non-religious writings of some philosophers to be inspired, though not canonical.[139]
The Church's most distinctive scripture, the Book of Mormon, was published by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830. It is believed to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" and bears that subtitle as of 1982.[140] Smith stated that he translated the Book of Mormon from metal plates that had "the appearance of gold" that he found buried near his home. His history records:
At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the 22nd day of September 1827, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.[141]
As of September 2007, the full text of the Book of Mormon had been translated and published in 77 languages, and selections in an additional 28 for a total of 105 languages.[142] The introduction printed with the book says that it is a history of the principal ancestors of the "American Indian" peoples.[143] Much debate has taken place on the subject of whether archeology supports or denies the Book of Mormon's authenticity.[144][145] The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies at BYU regularly publishes the observations of dozens of scholars trained in biblical studies, archeology, classics, history, law, linguistics, anthropology, political science, philosophy, Near Eastern studies, literature, and other fields relating to parallels with the Book of Mormon and the ancient world.[146]
The Church's Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of modern revelations, declarations, and teachings, primarily written by Joseph Smith. The Pearl of Great Price consists of five separate books, including two portions of Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible. These five books are Selections from the Book of Moses (corresponding to a portion of the Old Testament), the Book of Abraham (Smith's translation of an Egyptian papyrus, which includes an account of the creation), Joseph Smith—Matthew (corresponding to a section of the New Testament), Joseph Smith—History (an excerpt from Smith's 1838 autobiographical writings), and the Articles of Faith (an excerpt of one of Smith's 1842 letters describing Church beliefs).
For more on this subject, see below: Revelation under Church Leadership.
Church organization and structure
Name and legal entities
 | It has been suggested that Intellectual Reserve and Talk:Intellectual Reserve#Merge proposal be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2007. |
The Church teaches that it is a continuation of the Church of Christ established in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. This original Church underwent several name changes during the 1830s, being called the Church of Jesus Christ, the Church of God,[147] and then in 1834, the name was officially changed to the Church of the Latter Day Saints[148] to differentiate it from the 1st century Christian Church. In April 1838, the name again was officially changed by revelation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.[149][150][151] There were several alternate spellings of this name in use during Smith's lifetime, however, including a hyphenated "Latter-Day". After Smith died, Brigham Young and the largest body of Smith's followers incorporated the LDS Church in 1851 by legislation of the State of Deseret,[152] under the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which included a hyphenated "Latter-day" and a lower-case "d".[153] In 1887, the LDS Church was legally dissolved in the United States by the Edmunds–Tucker Act because of the Church's practice (now abandoned) of polygamy. Thereafter, the Church has continued to operate as an "unincorporated religious association", under the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which remains its formal name. Accepted informal names include the LDS Church, the Latter-day Saints, and the Mormons. The term Mormon Church is in common use, but the Church began discouraging its use in the late 20th century.[154] The AP Style Guide points out that the term "Mormon" is only appropriately used when referring to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Use of the term "Mormon" would not be appropriate for describing break away sects which are no longer associated with the LDS church.
The Church has organized several tax-exempt corporations to assist with the transfer of money and capital. These include the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized in 1916 under the laws of the state of Utah to acquire, hold, and dispose of real property. In 1923, the Church incorporated the Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah to receive and manage money and Church donations. In 1997, the Church incorporated Intellectual Reserve, Inc. to hold all the Church's copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property. The Church also holds several non-tax-exempt corporations. See Finances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Current membership
The Church reports a worldwide membership of 13 million[4][5] with approximately 6.7 million residing outside the United States. According to these statistics it is the fourth largest religious body in the United States.[155] The Church membership report includes all baptized members and also "children of record"—unbaptized children under the age of eight. (Children are not baptized before the age of eight.) Although the Church does not release attendance figures to the public, researchers estimate that actual attendance at weekly LDS worship services globally is around 4 million.[156] Members living in the U.S. and Canada constitute 46% of membership, Latin America 38%, and members in the rest of the world 16%.[157] A Survey by the City College of New York in 2001 extrapolated that there were 2,787,000 self-identified LDS adults in the United States in 2001, 1.3% of the US population, making the LDS Church the 10th-largest religious body in their phone survey of over 50,000 households.[158] One source cites it is the second fastest growing religion in the United States with a 1.63 percent annual growth rate.[159]
| 2007 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Survey | Mormons (U.S.) | U.S. Avg. |
|---|---|---|
| Married | 71% | 54% |
| Divorced or separated | 9% | 12% |
| 3 or more children at home | 21% | 9% |
| Weekly (or more) Attendance at Religious Services | 75% | 39% |
In 2007, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life published a survey of 35,556 Adults living in the United States on religious beliefs.[160] Of those, 1.7% claimed they were Mormon. In comparison, the LDS Church reported having 5,873,408 members or 1.9% of the overall U.S. population at year-end 2007. Responses from this survey estimates that 3.9 Million Mormons in the United States alone (1.3% of US Population) attend services on either once a week or more than once a week.
Geographic structure
Church congregations are generally organized geographically, unlike other mainstream Christian denominations. For Sunday services, the Church is grouped into either larger (~200 to ~400 people) congregations known as wards, or smaller congregations known as branches. These neighborhood congregations meet in meetinghouses, also referred to as "chapels" or "stake centers" or just ward buildings, located on property most often owned by the Church. In some geographic areas, rental property may be used as a meetinghouse. Although the building may sometimes be referred to as a "chapel", the room used as a chapel for religious services is actually only one component of the standard meetinghouse.[161] The Church's online "Meetinghouse Locator" can be used to find locations of Church buildings and meeting times.[162]
Regional Church organizations larger than single congregations include stakes, missions, districts, areas, and regions.
Church leadership
The leader of the Church is termed President, and Church members revere him as a prophet, seer, and revelator. The prophet is believed to hold the same divine calling as biblical prophets, and his responsibility is primarily over the Church as a whole. His stewardship extends over the whole human family on earth as the Lord's mouthpiece. He is entitled to guide the Church through revelation, acting as God's spokesman. The President of the Church serves as such until death. The current president is Thomas S. Monson.
The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presiding Bishopric and the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy are all referred to as general authorities because they direct the work of the entire Church throughout the world. The members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are accepted by the Church as prophets, seers, and revelators.
Other Church authorities are referred to as area authorities and local authorities and include all other Quorums of the Seventy, mission presidents, stake presidents, bishops, and other priesthood quorum presidents.
The Church has no salaried ministry; however, general authorities who demonstrate need receive stipends from the Church, using income from Church-owned investments.[163] All area and local authorities are unpaid and continue in their normal occupations while serving in leadership positions.
Although the Church had a paid local clergy in the 1800s,[164] local and regional priesthood leaders currently serve in a voluntary capacity. Non-clerical Church employees, general authorities (who serve life or five-year terms), and mission presidents are paid a stipend from Church funds and provided other benefits. A general missionary fund covers the basic living expenses of single LDS missionaries who are unable to pay their own way. Missionaries and their families are asked to contribute to this fund, and in the United States the missionary's congregation of origin is ultimately responsible to satisfy the monthly obligation to the general fund. Members volunteer general custodial work for local Church facilities.
Church hierarchy
The Church has a hierarchical structure, with clearly defined stewardships or realms of responsibility for the various offices. Those who hold such offices do not elect to do so but are "called" by someone of a higher authority in the Church; lower positions are not paid for their service. General Authorities, The Quorum of the Twelve, and the First Presidency are paid for their administrative duties, but not as religious ministers.
Priesthood
The priesthood is offered to all male members ages 12 and older who follow the Church's code of morality. The priesthood is received by ordination, which consists of other priesthood holders laying their hands on the one ordained. Ordination to the priesthood is a prerequisite to preside in the Church.
The priesthood in the LDS Church is divided into two levels, the lower priesthood or Aaronic Priesthood, and the higher priesthood or Melchizedek Priesthood. Within each level are various offices. The Aaronic Priesthood offices include deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. The Melchizedek priesthood offices include elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and apostle.
Revelation
The Church teaches that revelation from God continues today. Accordingly, revelation to direct the entire Church comes to the president; revelation to direct a stake comes to the stake president; for a ward, to the bishop; and so forth. Latter-day Saints also believe that individuals can receive personal revelation and divine guidance in raising their families and managing their personal affairs. Because of their belief in modern revelation, Latter-day Saints give significant weight to the teachings of their Church leaders. They revere the words their prophets and general authorities speak when "moved upon by the Holy Ghost"[165] as modern-day scripture, and members are encouraged to ponder and pray for revelation regarding the truthfulness of such statements.
Compatible with Apostle Paul's prophecy regarding "the dispensation of the fulness of times" (Eph. 1:10; also D&C 124:41; 128:18-20), Latter-day Saints believe a new dispensation, or restoration of doctrines, covenants, and priesthood authority from heaven, was necessary, so that people living today, as of 1820, do not need to depend only on long-past dispensations tainted by apostacy and intentional and unintentional errors. Some of the ancient dispensations were headed by such prophets as Adam, Abraham, Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Jesus Christ, all ending in apostacy. Latter-day Saints believe the dispensation of the fulness of times began with revelations to Joseph Smith, Jr., and will not end in apostacy, but with the Second Coming of Christ, the Son of God. They also see the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ as evidence of that Restoration.
Lest someone falsely claim to have received a revelation from God, only those declarations, publications, and teachings received by common consent in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are binding upon its members. Specifically, when a member is accepted by baptism and confirmation into the Church, he or she covenants to accept as binding upon him or her the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the pronouncements of the living prophet, or President of the Church, as the word of God, plus everything accepted by common consent up to that time. Any other teachings or publications are compared for accuracy against those criteria, and may or may not be true, and are not necessarily binding upon the members. [166] Latter-day Saints believe the Holy Bible is useful, instructive, and a wonderful miracle even as it stands, but that it has been tampered with over the millenia. The Book of Mormon says "many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord" have been deleted from the Bible. (1 Nephi 13:29-39) Every new translation of the Bible, or attempt to clarify its meaning, is a de facto confirmation of this same position. And contrary to some popular opinions, Latter-day Saints believe more of the Bible, and can explain more of it than many who claim to believe it exclusively. The King James Version of the Bible is the official Bible used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with cross-references to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and to the Joseph Smith Translation, also called the Inspired Version of the Bible, a King James Version partly corrected by Joseph Smith from 1830 to 1833.
As a principle, Latter-day Saints believe that they take the only viable position, all things considered, with regard to revelations from God, given their belief that He knows all things (is omniscient) and has all power (is omnipotent). (2 Nephi 9:20; Jacob 4:8-13) They certainly believe Man is at an inestimable disadvantage when pitting his knowledge against God’s knowledge. They believe that in the very best of circumstances, men—clergymen, scholars, researchers, theorists--must reason from the part to the whole, while God reasons from the whole to the part. That is, that men interpolate and guess, while God knows all things. Those unacquainted with the Latter-day Saint definition of “revelation” tend to misunderstand their position that any indication of the will of God is deemed a revelation, be it a feeling or impression (Acts 15:28), a dream (Dan.2:3), a vision (Acts 10:3), a voice (1 Sam. 3:4-11), or an angelic visitation (Acts 10:7-10).[167] Latter-day Saints believe no one can be saved unless he or she receives the gift of the Holy Ghost (John 3:5; D&C 16), a being who is a Revelator, by definition, so that every interaction of the Holy Ghost with Man is a revelation from God.[168] Latter-day Saints also believe that anyone receiving an answer to prayer has received a manifestation of the will of God, hence a revelation from Him. In fact, all mortals are commanded by God to pray, certainly expecting to receive an answer, if they ask in faith. (Matt. 6:6)[169] Joseph Smith’s glorious visitation from the Father and the Son was simply an answer to his boyhood prayer, after reading James 1:5-8 in the Holy Bible (Joseph Smith History 1:17-19).
Latter-day Saints believe the Book of Mormon is a book containing revelations from God and can be verified empirically through a personal revelation to the sincere seeker (Moroni 10:4-5). In fact, the book came to light, was compiled, hidden, brought forth, and translated in such a way that the reader must obtain a personal witness of its truth. As the “keystone” of their religion, Latter-day Saints believe it proves Joseph Smith and his successors are prophets (see above heading: Sacred Texts)[170].
One of the most significant contributions of the Book of Mormon is its verification of the little-known and almost forgotten Bible doctrine that Christ was known by every prophet from the beginning down to John the Baptist (Matt. 11:13; Jacob 7:11-13). Prophets before the coming of Christ foretold His coming, and those who came after looked back on His coming. The very spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, a manifestation of the Holy Ghost (Rev. 19:10).
Latter-day Saints believe there is no true Christian life without continual revelation from God. It takes revelation from God to be saved. If we are saved, the Holy Ghost must touch our lives continually. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead and speaks only the words the Father and Son give Him[171]. It takes revelation to be converted to Christ. It takes revelation to understand revelation. It takes revelation to recognize another revelation. It take revelation to have and exercise priesthood authority. It takes revelation from the Holy Ghost to live the way Christ wants humans to live. It takes revelation to do missionary work. It takes revelation to run the day-to-day affairs of the kingdom of God. It takes a revelation to be called to the ministry. Every time the Holy Ghost touches human lives it is a revelation from God, because it is a form of communication from God. [172]
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are frequently condemned for accepting revelations extraneous to the Bible, on grounds quoted from the Book of Revelation (Rev. 22:18-21). In answer, Latter-day Saints respond that "taking away" and "adding to" have to do only with the Book of Revelation, not the entirety of Holy Writ. At the time of Jesus and the apostles, what are now books in the New Testament did not exist as a single compilation, but only as separated manuscripts. A similar limiting statement is recorded in the Fifth Book of Moses ( in Deuteronomy 4:1-2), which would seem to disqualify subsequent writings of the prophets and the entire New Testament. Furthermore, in agreement with Isaac Newton, the well-known English physicist and Bible scholar, Latter-day Saints believe the following books were written after the Book of Revelation: Book of John; Book of Hebrews; First, Second, and Third Peter; and some others.[173]
The scriptures carried and quoted in New Testament times by the Apostle Paul and others were only the Old Testament, yet who today would disallow the supremely elucidating words of God contained in the New Testament? By contrast, Latter-day Saints believe there is no end to the works and words of the Living God (Moroni 7:36). Other statements in scripture allude to this very idea (John 21:25; 3 Nephi 26:6). God may command and revoke as seems good to Him at any time (D&C 56:4-6).[174] Several works missing from the Bible are mentioned in the Bible, among them the Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14), Book of Jasher (Jos. 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18), and the Book of Enoch (D&C 107:57; Gen. 5:22-24; Heb. 11:5; Jude 1:14). The Book of Mormon mentions multiple times three books belonging in the Old Testament, the Book of Joseph (2 Ne. 3:4-22), the Book of Zenos, and the Book of Zenock (1 Ne. 19:10-12), all prophesying of Christ and future events. The entire Book of Mormon itself purports to be a body of scripture from another nation visited by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (2 Nephi 28 and 29).
Joseph Smith said of the Book of Mormon, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion" (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith, p. 57). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands or falls, based on the genuineness of the Book. If it came forth, was translated from gold plates by means of ancient seer stones, from reformed Egyptian, was declared correctly translated by an angel to three witnesses besides Joseph Smith, the plates being seen and handled by an additional eight witnesses, was partly sealed (Isa. 29;11-18), and actually was an ancient spiritual record of Christ's dealings with a fallen people on the American continents, as Joseph Smith, Jr., said it was, then the Mormon position is that one must conclude that he is a prophet. If any detail of his unusual account is false, then he would be false, they contend. If the Book is true, as millions now believe, then he and his successors are genuine prophets, and the church he established under divine guidance is also genuine and correct, in the Mormon view ("Testimony of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses" at the front of Book of Mormon; Doctrine and Covenants 84:54-59; Moroni 10:4-5 in the Book of Mormon)[140].
In the Judeo-Christian tradition and in the courts of the United States, a testimony presented by two competent witnesses is considered more convincing than the testimony of one, especially if that single witness is testifying in his own cause. The Bible and Book of Mormon set forth the divine practice of furnishing "two or three witnesses" to important divine acts (Deut. 17:1; 2 Cor. 13:1; Ether 5:4). Mormons contend that every religion except that taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has only one witness, the religion itself. Latter-day Saints believe they have witnesses from each of two widely separated nations for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, one book originating in ancient Israel and one in ancient America, and that the two testify of the same God and of each other. Those nations produced the Bible and the Book of Mormon, "the stick of Judah" and "stick of Ephraim," which agree, testifying that Jesus is the Messiah, the true and livng God of Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-19; 2 Nephi 3:12; 29:2-14; Isa. 29:11-18; Gen. 48; Jer. 3:18; John 10:16; Acts 10:34-36; Alma 46:24-26; 3 Ne. 10:16, 17; 15:16-24; 16:1-7; 20:22; D&C 3:16; 20:11-12; 42:11-12)[141].
Auxiliary organizations
Under the leadership of the priesthood hierarchy are five auxiliary organizations that fill various roles in the Church: Relief Society, Young Men Organization, Young Women Organization, Primary, and Sunday School.
The Relief Society is the Church's women's organization. Founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, and with the motto "Charity Never Faileth", the organization today includes more than 5 million women in more than 165 countries.[175] Every Latter-day Saint woman age 18 or older is a member of the Relief Society.
The Young Men and Young Women organizations are composed of adolescents aged 12 to 17. Members often have an additional meeting during the week (referred to as Mutual), which can involve an activity, game, service project, or instruction. The young men and women may meet separately or take part in combined activities. In the United States and Canada, the young men participate in Scouting, including efforts to earn the Boy Scouts religious award for Church members, "On my Honor." Young men throughout the Church also work toward earning the Church's "Duty to God" award. Young women participate in a comparable program called Personal Progress. Both the young men and the young women are encouraged to live by the standards outlined in the Church's "For the Strength of Youth" booklet.
The Primary is an organization for children up to age 12, founded in 1878. It provides classes, music, and activities for children during two hours of the three-hour Sunday meeting schedule.
The LDS Sunday School organization provides classes for adolescents and adults during the one hour of the Sunday meeting schedule. It provides a variety of classes, including introductory classes for new members and nonmembers, and gospel doctrine classes for more experienced members. Adolescents are grouped into classes by age.
Programs
Missionary
Some members of the Church are encouraged to serve as missionaries, either full-time, part-time or as "service" missionaries. All missionaries serve on a volunteer basis, and none are paid for their service. While members are encouraged to serve as missionaries, there is no requirement to do so.
Unmarried young men between the ages of 19 and 25 who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood ("Elder") and meet standards of worthiness and preparation are especially encouraged to serve a two-year, full-time proselytizing mission (there are a few who are older). These are the backbone of the worldwide missionary effort. Women who desire to serve a mission must be at least 21 and unmarried, and are generally called to serve 18-month missions. A friendly rivalry usually exists between the Elders and the "Sisters."
A would-be missionary must request that he or she be considered for service, then must go through interviews with Church authorities to determine worthiness and ability to perform the duties. Once this is done, they "put in their papers," then wait to see where they will be called to serve. Full-time missionaries may be called to serve anywhere in the world, and often know nothing about the mission area that they will be assigned to. If necessary, they will be taught the language which they must use.
This is successful only because the Church as a single, uniform doctrine in all parts of the world. The only difference in the teaching given by a missionary serving in the Philippines or in Pittsburgh may be the language in which the lessons are given.
Missionaries are expected to pay their own expenses (though some are partially supported by other church members, especially if they come from less-affluent areas). With few exceptions, a missionary will serve the entire period of his or her calling in one mission, but will be moved around within the mission boundaries.
Some of the exceptions include sister missionaries called to the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission in Salt Lake City. These sisters will spend approximately three months "in the field" somewhere else in the United States, at some point during their mission otherwise confined to Temple Square.
Other exceptions include missionaries who develop health problems while on their missions and wish to continue to serve by being transferred to a mission close to home (or care providers), or those in areas which impose length-of-stay limits on foreign "workers."
Retired married couples and other older people are allowed to serve missions as well, and their length of service varies from three to 36 months.[176] Many of these older missionaries are on "service missions," rather than proselyting, but many also serve at Church historical sites throughout the world or where there is a special need (for instance, the only Elders called to the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission are part of these "couples." Service missionaries bring the skills they've developed over their lifetimes to areas in need of people with such backgrounds.
There are approximately 350 missions worldwide (missions are added or consolidated as needed) with approximately 53,000 full-time proselytizing missionaries. [157] At any given time, there are also over 3,000 service missionaries, serving as health care specialists, doctors, craftsmen, artisans, construction supervisors, agricultural experts and educators for developing countries, and educators, historians, family history researchers, and leadership trainers.[157]
Missions often overlap in their geographical areas of authority, when necessary to serve portions of the resident population. For instance, within the bounds of one mission might also be special missions serving a foreign-speaking immigrant community, inner-city areas, historical sites, Welfare Program resources such as storehouses and farms, etc., and even missions specifically created for a unique project, such as Temple construction or making films for the Church. These special missions are generally in addition to the approximately 350 missions mentioned above, and number in the hundreds.
Every full-time and service missionary is the responsibility of a Mission President and his wife, who are generally called for several years at a time (and, like the missionaries they lead, they pay their own way). They provide administration of day-to-day operations, as well as spiritual guidance of the missionaries. The exceptions are part-time missionaries who are serving in their own neighborhoods under the direction of their Bishop or Branch President.
In June 2007, the Church marked the induction of its one millionth full-time missionary since 1830.[5] There is no recorded total of part-time missionaries.
Education
Latter-day Saints believe in the value of education. Joseph Smith taught that "the glory of God is intelligence."[177] Accordingly, the Church maintains Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University–Idaho (formerly Ricks College), Brigham Young University Hawaii, and LDS Business College.
The Church also has religious education programs. The Seminary and Institute programs are part of the Church Educational System: Seminary is a program for secondary school students held daily in conjunction with the school year. The Institute of Religion and the LDS Student Association programs serve young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 and those enrolled in post-secondary education institutions with Church-owned buildings near university and college campuses designated for the purpose of religious education and cultural socialization.
In addition, the Church sponsors a low-interest educational loan program known as the Perpetual Education Fund. This fund is designed to benefit young men and women from less developed parts of the world who have served a mission, returned to their home, and need further education to become productive citizens in their respective countries. As they finish their educations and enter the work force and become able, they pay back the funds provided so that other individuals can attend vocational technical schools or university.
Welfare
Members of the Church donate fast offerings on Fast Sunday and at other times for the purpose of helping those who are poor or financially struggling. The bishop will meet with a family, or the head(s) of a family to determine whether and how much help they need from the Church. The Church strongly encourages its members to be self-reliant, so these meetings will usually include a plan on how to get the family back on its own feet. This welfare program is available not only to members of the Church, but to needy members of the community as well. In fact, the Church has a very broad humanitarian effort, which helps not only those who are going through financial struggles, but also victims of natural disasters or other devastating events. All of these services are paid for by charitable donations and are run by volunteer workers. $104.9 million of aid was given in 2007. Welfare service missionaries numbering 3,974 are currently serving in the Church.[178]
Priesthood correlation
Finances
The Church has not released Church-wide financial statements since 1959, but in 1997 Time Magazine called it one of the world's wealthiest Churches per capita.[179] Its for-profit, non-profit, and educational subsidiary entities are audited by an independent accounting firm: as of 2007[update], Deloitte & Touche.[180][181][182] The Church receives most of its money from tithes (ten percent of a member's income) and fast offerings (money given to the Church to assist individuals in need.) But tithing and fast offering moneys collected are never spent on for-profit items; they are only spent on building up the Church. About ten percent of its funding also comes from income on investments and real estate holdings.[183]
The Church uses its tithing funds to construct and maintain buildings and other facilities; to print the Scriptures for missionary work; to provide social welfare and relief; and to support missionary, educational, and other Church-sponsored programs.[184]
The Church has also invested in for-profit business and real estate ventures such as Bonneville International, Deseret Book Company, and cattle ranches in Utah, Florida, and Canada. But these ranches are split between Church Welfare Work (Bishop's Storehouse and Welfare Square) for which funds are used from tithing and are not for profit.[clarification needed] For-profit ranching operations are partially self-sustained but never use tithed money.[citation needed]
Culture
Due to the differences in lifestyle promoted by Church doctrine and history, a distinct culture has grown up around members of the Church. It is primarily concentrated in the Intermountain West, but as membership of the Church spreads around the world, many of its more distinctive practices follow, such as following the Word of Wisdom, a revealed health law or code (D&C 89), similar to Leviticus chapter 11 in the Bible, prohibiting the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, and other addictive substances.[185] Because of such prohibitions, the culture in areas of the world with a high concentration of Mormons tends to reflect these restrictions.[186]
Meetings and outreach programs are held regularly and have become part of the Latter-day Saint culture.
Home and family
Four times a year, the adult women (members of the Church's Relief Society) attend a Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meeting (formerly known as Homemaking Meeting). The meeting may consist of a service project, or of attending a social event, or of various classes being offered. Additional Enrichment activities are offered for women with similar needs and interests.
Social events and gatherings
In addition to these regularly scheduled meetings, additional meetings are frequently held at the meetinghouse. Auxiliary officers may conduct leadership meetings or host training sessions and classes. The ward or branch community may schedule social activities at the meetinghouse, including dances, dinners, holiday parties and musical presentations. Mutual (a group for youth of the Church) is held at the meetinghouse once a week, where the youth participate in activities and work on Duty to God, scouting, or Personal Progress. Other popular activities are basketball, family history conferences, youth and singles conferences, dances and various personal improvement classes. Church members may also reserve the building for weddings and receptions, or funerals.
Media community
The culture has created substantial business opportunities for independent LDS media. The largest of these communities are LDS cinema, LDS fiction, LDS websites, and LDS graphical art like photography and paintings. The Church owns a chain of bookstores called Deseret Book, which provide a channel through which publications are sold. This culture also resides outside of heavily Mormon populations, and many LDS-related bookstores exist near temples. Some of the titles that have become popular outside of the LDS community are The Work and the Glory novels and the movie The Other Side of Heaven.[original research?] A number of works have been successful only within the LDS community. These works generally elaborate on LDS culture or are of historical interest or are historical fiction. BYU TV, the Church-sponsored television station, also airs on several networks.
Praise
The Church has been the object of praise since its inception. After spending a summer with the Mormons in the early 1870s, historian John Codman concluded that the Mormons in Utah did a better job of ridding their communities of gambling, drunkenness, and prostitution than the rest of the country.[187] In addition, historian Wallace Stegner praised the integrity of several early Church leaders.[188] In the 21st century, the Sierra Club praised the Church for being "good stewards" in its City Creek Center development.[189]
Criticism
The Church has been subject to criticism since its early years in New York and Pennsylvania. Criticism at first stemmed from the perceived implausibility of Joseph Smith's claim to be a prophet who had been visited by God and angels, as well as questions of the legitimacy of Smith's revelations and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham. The Church's later settlement in western Missouri stoked political turmoil, culminating in the 1838 Mormon War. After the Church relocated to Illinois, religious and political controversy persisted, leading to Smith's 1844 assassination. As the Church began openly practicing plural marriage under Brigham Young during the second half of the 19th century, the Church became the target of nation-wide criticism. After the 1890 and 1904 manifestos and Church president Joseph F. Smith's testimony before the U.S. Senate, national criticism of the Church eased.
Throughout the history of the movement, critics have questioned the legitimacy of Smith as a prophet and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. In modern times, criticism focuses on claims of historical revisionism, homophobia, racism,[190] sexist policies, and inadequate financial disclosure.
Notable 20th century critics include Jerald and Sandra Tanner and Fawn Brodie. In recent years, the Internet has provided a new forum for critics,[191] and the church's recent support of California's Proposition 8 sparked heated debate and protesting by gay-rights organizations.[192][193]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Statistical Report 2007
- ^ "LDS Newsroom - Education" (Press release). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
- ^ Chronological List of Temples
- ^ a b "LDS Church says membership now 13 million worldwide", Salt Lake Tribune, June 25, 2007.
- ^ a b c Press Release, LDS Church, "One Million Missionaries, Thirteen Million Members", June 25, 2007.
- ^ Ballard, M. Russell (2007). "Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits". Retrieved 2008-04-16.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Yearbook of Canadian and American Churches 2007, Edited by Lindner, see also http://www.ncccusa.org/news/080215yearbook1.html
- ^ Articles of Faith 1:8
- ^ name="Talmage">Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pg. 90, 1981 edition
- ^ a b pamphlet #3691000 The Gospel of Jesus Christ, pg. 18, published by the Church. English approval 11/05
- ^ The Church was organized April 6, 1830 in the log cabin of Joseph Smith, Sr. in the Manchester area, near Rochester, followed by a meeting the next Sunday in nearby Fayette at the house of Peter Whitmer, Sr. Nevertheless, one of Smith's histories and an 1887 reminiscence by David Whitmer say the Church was organized at the Whitmer house in Fayette. (Whitmer, however, had already told a reporter in 1875 that the Church was organized in Manchester. Whitmer (August 7, 1875), "The Golden Tables", Chicago Times
{{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|unused_data=(help); Text "first-John C." ignored (help).) See Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints). The Church refers to Fayette as the place of organization in all its official publications. - ^ "Scriptures". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2007-12-25.: "On September 22, 1827, an angel named Moroni—the last Book of Mormon prophet—delivered these records to the Prophet Joseph Smith." "Angel Moroni Statue Displayed in Massachusetts". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2001. Retrieved 2007-12-25..
- ^ D&C 32
- ^ The Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac pg.655
- ^ D&C 57:1-3
- ^ Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History pg.1103
- ^ Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History pg. 665, 823
- ^ Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac pg. 221
- ^ Chicago Census
- ^ Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History pg. 824
- ^ Doctrine & Covenants 135
- ^ New York Times April 8, 2004.
- ^ "Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail: History & Culture", U.S. National Park Service. "The great Mormon migration of 1846–1847 was but one step in the Mormons' quest for religious freedom and growth."
- ^ Official Declaration — 1
- ^ In 1998 President Gordon B. Hinckley stated,
“If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church.” Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Are People Asking About Us?" Ensign, November 1998, 70
- ^ a b “Statistical Report, 2000,” Ensign, May 2001, 22
- ^ Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac pg. 655
- ^ “First Presidency Statement on Basing of MX Missile”, Ensign, June 1981, 76.
- ^ “The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue”, Ensign, March 1980, insert.
- ^ “Church’s Stand against Gambling”, Ensign, March 1992, 74.
- ^ "Same-Gender Attraction" (Press release). Newsroom.lds.org. 2005-05-26. Retrieved March 2007.
{{cite press release}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Euthanasia and Prolonging Life" (Press release). Newsroom.lds.org. Retrieved March 2007.
{{cite press release}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Political Neutrality" (Press release). Newsroom.lds.org. 2006-10-19. Retrieved March 2007.
{{cite press release}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); see also Newsroom.lds.org, "No Thumbs Up or Down To Legislature", Retrieved May 2007. - ^ Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pg. 90, 1981 edition
- ^ Articles of Faith 1:4
- ^ Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings", p. 311,372
- ^ References in text.
- ^ a b Jeffrey R. Holland, The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent, Ensign Magazine, November 2007, pg. 40
- ^ Hebrews 12:9
- ^ Abraham 3:21–26, Doctrine and Covenants 93:29
- ^ Mosiah 3:8, The Book of Mormon p. 152, 1981 ed.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 39:4-6
- ^ Articles of Faith 1:3
- ^ Alma 34:10,14
- ^ Alma 42
- ^ Alma 34:16
- ^ Alma 11:44; 42:23
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-20
- ^ 3 Nephi 11:33
- ^ Alma 7:11–13
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 45:4
- ^ 3 Nephi 11:14, Doctrine and Covenants 45:52
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
- ^ Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 471
- ^ James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, p. 159 published 1977
- ^ St. John 15:26, KJV
- ^ Book of Mormon pg. 153,Mosiah 3:19, pub. 1981
- ^ 14:26 John 14:26
- ^ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Chapter 2: Our Heavenly Family", Gospel Principles, 11 (1997).
- ^ See, e.g., Spencer W. Kimball, "The True Way of Life and Salvation", Ensign, May 1978, 4.
- ^ Smith, Joseph F. (1909). Man: Origin and Destiny. pp. 348–355.
- ^ See, e.g., Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, #292 "O My Father"; #286 Oh, What Songs of the Heart.
- ^ The Holy Bible,Revelation of St. John the Divine 14:6
- ^ See The Pearl of Great Price, Salt Lake City, 1981 footnote pg. 58-59
- ^ Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21
- ^ LDS Church, "Gospel Topics: Ordinances".
- ^ D&C 22:1; 131:2; 132:4,6,19,26-27,19-42
- ^ 1 Nephi 11:21-23; Enos 1:3; Alma 4:14; 19:6,14; 26:11-35; 28:8
- ^ Matt. 26:28; John 6:54; Heb. 9:14-22; 13:12; 3 Nephi 18:1-16; Moroni 4 and 5
- ^ Gen. 12:1-3; 17:7,9,19; Deut. 4:25-31; 1 Chron. 5:1-2; Jeremiah 31:9,18-19,31-34; Heb. 7:11-14; Abraham 2:8-11; D&C 86:8-11
- ^ Gen. 14:19; 22:17; 26:4; 49:25
- ^ Title Page, Book of Mormon; 1 Nephi 15:12-18; 2 Nephi 3: 6:10-15; 9:1-3; Building Faith with the Book of Mormon by Glenn L. Pearson, SLC: Bookcraft, 1986, p. 25
- ^ LDS Church, “Chapter 40: Temple Work and Family History”, Gospel Principles, 255.
- ^ See Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- ^ Moroni 8:4–23; D&C 68:25–27; LDS Church, “Chapter 20: Baptism”, Gospel Principles, 129.
- ^ LDS Church, “Chapter 20: Baptism”, Gospel Principles, 129.
- ^ Moroni 8:22-23
- ^ Moses 3:5; D&C 93:29
- ^ Smith, Joseph Fielding. Bruce R. McConkie, ed. Doctrines of Salvation (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954 [1972 reprint]) Vol. 1, p. 62
- ^ First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles. "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" 1995
- ^ Smith. Doctrines of Salvation. vol. 1, p. 56
- ^ general idea also expressed in Smith, Joseph F. Gospel Doctrine: Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969) p. 93
- ^ See Moses 4:1-4
- ^ Abraham 3:24-28 describes this as well
- ^ D&C 29:36–37, 2 Nephi 2:17 briefly mentions the fall of Satan (Book of Mormon, p. 58 [1982 English edition (Salt Lake City)]).
- ^ See Abraham 3:24-25
- ^ Moses 1:29–33
- ^ LDS Church, “Chapter 45: The Postmortal Spirit World”, Gospel Principles, 289.
- ^ See Alma 11:42–45.
- ^ a b LDS Church. “Chapter 46: The Last Judgment”, Gospel Principles, 294.
- ^ Romans 8:17.
- ^ LDS Church, “Chapter 47: Exaltation”, Gospel Principles, 301.
- ^ LDS Church (1909), First Presidency Statement: The Origin of Man.
- ^ See 2 Nephi 1:5–7
- ^ Alma 10:3; Joseph Smith History 1:34
- ^ Article of Faith 1:10
- ^ Berrett, William E, Teachings of the Doctrine and Covenants, 1956, Ch. 42, p.280
- ^ McConkie, Bruce R. A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 1985, p. 587
- ^ Revelation 20:1-3 KJV
- ^ a b LDS Church, The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
- ^ LDS Church, “Chapter 38: Eternal Marriage”, Gospel Principles, 241.
- ^ Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, [1] [2] [3]
- ^ Sonja Farnsworth (1992), "Mormonism's Odd Couple: The Motherhood-Priesthood Connection", in Maxine Hanks, ed., Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism, Salt Lake City: Signature Books.
- ^ Helen Witney & Jane Barnes (2007), The Mormons, Part 2 (PBS presentation) ("Mormon women work outside the home in about the same proportions as other American women").
- ^ Church Handbook of Instructions: Book 1, Stake Presidents and Bishoprics (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006) at 41, 78.
- ^ "Women in the Church". lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ^ LDS Church (1997), Gospel Principles, p. 249.
- ^ Spencer W. Kimball (1969), The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, pp. 25, 77–89.
- ^ Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton,"Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers", 2005 ISBN 978-0195180954, [4] esp. Charts of outcomes
- ^ Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay (October 1942), "Parenthood: First Presidency Message", Conference Report, pp. 12–13.
- ^ In the 19th century, the Church performed illegal polygamous marriages, but that practice has been discontinued. The Church is sensitive about its historical relationship with polygamy and entry into a polygamous marriage, even where legal, may result in excommunication: Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics (2006), p. 110.
- ^ "The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice." - letter from the First Presidency to local Church leaders, 5 Jan, 1982, Copy located in BYU Library Special Collections, as quoted at [5]
- ^ "By the close of the nineteenth century, the Church had developed a comprehensive, if not systematic and exhaustive set of beliefs and teachings relevant to the subject of fertility control...there was clearly no place within the Kingdom for such "hellish" practices" - Bush, Lester E., Jr.; Birth Control Among the Mormons - Introduction to an Insistent Question; Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Volume 10, Number 2, Autumn 1976; pg 18
- ^ LDS Church, Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics, 2006, pp. 109–111.
- ^ LDS Church, Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics, 2006, p. 188.
- ^ a b Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Are People Asking about Us?", Ensign, November 1998, 71.
- ^ The Church characterizes its Church discipline policy as neutral regarding sexual orientation Lattin, Don (1997) Musings of the Main Mormon (Pres. Gordon Hinckley: “Now we have gays in the Church. Good people. We take no action against such people—provided they don’t become involved in transgression, sexual transgression. If they do, we do with them exactly what we’d do with heterosexuals who transgress.”) Nevertheless, according to the Church handbook, repeated homosexual activities by adults, unlike repeated heterosexual extramarital sex, will result in an automatic annotation to a person's permanent membership record, which will follow them if they move to a new local congregation. See Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics (2006), p. 147. Also, homosexual activity committed after the age of 16 will normally permanently bar a person from serving a mission for the Church. Id., p. 94.
- ^ Interview with Elder Oaks and Wickman.
- ^ a b First Presidency Statement on Same-Gender Marriage
- ^ Moore, Carrie (May 15, 2008). "LDS Church expresses disappointment in California gay marriage decision". Deseret News.
- ^ Open invitation to attend Church, on Church-maintained website
- ^ Mormon.org. "What to expect at Sunday meetings". Retrieved 2006-10-22.
- ^ Services may be held on a different day when Sunday worship is prohibited by law.
- ^ LDS.org
- ^ D&C 104:78; Benson, Ezra Taft. "Pay Thy Debt, and Live." Ensign. June 1987: p. 3. "Available online". Retrieved 2006-10-22.
- ^ "Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Opus 3 Artists. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ Miller, Roger L. "History of Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants section 89, originally a strong recommendation, but adopted as a requirement by Brigham Young in 1851.
- ^ Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1:Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics, 2006, p. 185.
- ^ For example, until 1890, the Church advocated civil disobedience to U.S. anti-polygamy laws.
- ^ Gambling. Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- ^ Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics (2006), p. 110.
- ^ Russell M. Ballard. "A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings". Ensign (September 1990). Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- ^ See Articles of Faith 1:8 ("We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.")
- ^ Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 327
- ^ Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2006, p. 174
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link). - ^ "Why do Latter-day Saints use the King James (or Authorized) Version of the Bible?". Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ See D&C 91.
- ^ FAQ about the Church
- ^ see the title page of the Book of Mormon
- ^ Joseph Smith—History 1:59
- ^ 2008 Church Almanac, Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake City pg.656
- ^ However, this introduction is not officially recognized by the Church as being part of the divinely inspired canon of scripture.
- ^ Does Archeology Support the Book of Mormon?:A Brief Survey of the Evidence Institute for Religious Research. 1992
- ^ Ludlow, Daniel H. (2000). To All the World: The Book of Mormon Articles from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. pp. 13–14. ISBN 0934893470.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help). - ^ Parry, Peterson, and Welch, Echos and Evidences of the Book of Mormonpg. xi-xii
- ^ Roberts, B.H., ed. (1905), [[History of the Church|History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], vol. 3, Deseret News, pp. 23–24
{{citation}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help). - ^
Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Williams, Frederick G.; Cowdery, Oliver (1834), "Minutes of a Conference of the Elders of the Church of Christ, May 3, 1834" ([dead link] – Scholar search), The Evening and the Morning Star, 2 (20): 160
{{citation}}: External link in|format= - ^
Smith, Joseph, Jr. (August 1838), Elders' Journal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1 (4): 52 http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/eldjur04.htm
{{citation}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link). - ^ Manuscript History of the Church, LDS Church Archives, book A-1, p. 37; reproduced in Dean C. Jessee (comp.) (1989). The Papers of Joseph Smith: Autobiographical and Historical Writings (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book) 1:302–303.
- ^ H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters (1994). Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 160.
- ^ The initial incorporation by the non-existent State of Deseret[6] was not legally valid, but was soon ratified by the Territory of Utah in 1851[7] and 1855. See Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. Romney, 136 U.S. 44–45 (1890).
- ^ State of Deseret: An Ordinance, incorporating the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, February 4, 1851.
- ^ The LDS Church requests that the official name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be used where possible.[8]. It also encourages the use of "the Church" or "the Church of Jesus Christ" as shortened references, although "LDS Church" is commonly used within the Church's own publications and the Church officially uses "Mormon" as a descriptive term for itself in the name of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the website mormon.org. Despite these efforts, the Associated Press continues to recommend "Mormon Church" as a proper second reference in its Style Guide for journalists, and the Church itself uses "Mormon Church" on some of its websites.
- ^ 2005 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, National Council of Churches. See article by Information Please Database, Pearson Education, Inc.
- ^ Fletcher, Peggy. "Keeping Members a Challenge for LDS Church". Salt Lake Tribune, June 22, 2006.
- ^ a b c Statistical Information, Retrieved Dec 1, 2007
- ^ Egon Mayer, Ph.D.; Barry A. Kosmin, Ph.D.; Ariela Keysar, Ph.D. "American Religious Identification Survey". cuny.edu. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Duin, Julia (February 1, 2008). "Mormons in mourning". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ [9]
- ^ A Church-maintained virtual tour of a typical meetinghouse
- ^ Worship With Us
- ^ Ludlow, Daniel H., Latter-day Prophets Speak: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Church Presidents, 1948/1993, Ch. 32
- ^ D. Michael Quinn (1997), Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Salt Lake City: Signature Books, ch. 6.
- ^ D&C 8:3–4. Members are encouraged to listen carefully to general conference but also feel they can rely on personal revelation in order to appreciate validity of such statements. (see Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, April 1902, and Howard W. Hunter in Conference Report, October 1981.)
- ^ D&C 20:63-66; 26:2; 46:9; 104:21,64,71-72; Standard Works of the Church
- ^ Matt. 1:20; Gen. 37:5+; 41:1+; Ether 9:3; Ezek. 43:3; Dan. 8:1-2; JS-H 1:24
- ^ John 14:15-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-17
- ^ Matt. 5:44; Luke 18:1; 21:36; John 14:13; 15:7; 1 Thes. 5:17; James 1:5-8; 2 Chron. 7:14; Joel 3:32
- ^ Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith, p. 57
- ^ John 14:15-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-173 Nephi 29; D&C 20:6-30
- ^ Building Faith with the Book of Mormon by Glenn L. Pearson, Bookcraft: Salt Lake City, 1986, pp. 69,73,139
- ^ Observations on the Book of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John by Isaac Newton
- ^ D&C 20:32-36; 58:32; 3 Nephi 11:40; Deut. 4:1-2
- ^ "From Pioneer Group to Worldwide Society". newsroom.lds.org.
- ^ "Mormon Missionaries". Light Planet.
- ^ D&C 93:36
- ^ "Statistical Information". newsroom.lds.org.
- ^ Biema, David Van. Kingdom Come. Time Magazine, Vol. 150 No. 5, August 4, 1997 (estimating the Church's value at over $30 billion).
- ^ "Why Deseret Trust Company?" Accessed May 15, 2007.
- ^ Belo Corp Form 8-K. Accessed May 16, 2007.
- ^ "Financial Planning". finserve.byu.edu. Accessed May 16, 2007.
- ^ Mormon Inquiry article
- ^ "Church Finances". newsroom.lds.org.
- ^ See Doctrine & Covenants, Section 89.
- ^ Salt Lake Tribune Editorial, Liquor stores: Banning phone listings, stores won't stop abuse.
- ^ Codman, John (1874). The Mormon Country. A Summer with the "Latter-Day Saints". New York: United States Pub. Co. p. 225.
In all my voyages and travels about the world, I never before passed three months in a community more industrious, upright, honest in dealing among themselves and with others, quiet, inoffensive, loyal to government, temperate, virtuous, and religious, than these Mormons.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|chapterurl=,|month=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - ^ Stegner, Wallace Earle (2003). Mormon Country. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 197, 206, 208. ISBN 0803293054.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|chapterurl=,|month=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - ^ Page, Jared (2008-06-20). "Sierra Club hails LDS Church for downtown Salt Lake makeover". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessdaymonth=,|month=,|accessyear=,|accessmonthday=, and|coauthors=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Skin Color in Mormon Scripture and Theology" http://irr.org/mit/pdfs/Skin-Color-&-LDS-Church.pdf
- ^
Mindy Sink (September 6, 2003). "Religion Journal; Spiritual Issues Lead Many to the Net". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "San Diego march for marriage equality draws 20,000 protesters". Gay & Lesbian Times. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "California and Same-Sex Marriage". LDS Church. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
- Anderson, Richard Lloyd (1989). Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. ISBN 0875792421.
- Garr, Arnold K. (2000). Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. ISBN 1-57345-882-8.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Newell, Coke (2001-05-04). Latter Days: An Insider's Guide to Mormonism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0312280432.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Ostling, Richard (2000-10-01). Mormon America: The Power and the Promise (1st ed.). HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0060663723.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Parry, Donald W.(co-edited by) (2002). Echos and Evidences of the Book of Mormon. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, BYU, Provo, Utah. ISBN 0934893721.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Noel B. Reynolds, ed. (1982). Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Provo. ISBN 0934893187.
- Riess, Jana (2005-02-25). Mormonism For Dummies. For Dummies. ISBN 0764571958.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Shipps, Jan (1987-01-01). Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252014170.
- Shipps, Jan (2000-12-09). Sojourner in the Promised Land: Forty Years Among the Mormons. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252025903.
- Smith, Joseph Fielding (compiled by) (1976). Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-665-9.
- Williams, Drew (2003-06-03). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Mormonism. Alpha. ISBN 0028644913.
- 2008 Church Almanac. Deseret Morning News. 2008. ISBN-13: 978-1-59038-900-3.
External links
Official websites of the Church
- LDS.org - The official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — with links to Gospel Library, Church History, Family Home Evening programs, and more
- Mormon.org - Information on basic beliefs, a meetinghouse locater, and a place to email questions
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- LDSFAQ at byu.edu - A comprehensive index answering many common questions. Uses large portions of The Encyclopedia of Mormonism
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- Mormonism Search - Search Mormon Web Sites - Browser Plugin Available
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- Bible References Supporting The Beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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- The Genesis Group - Official website for black Latter-day Saints, their families and friends, and individuals interested in the LDS Church
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- Church Music - official website
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- Liahona.net - free LDS-type music in MP3 format.
Academic forums
- The Joseph Smith Papers
- Encyclopedia of Mormonism (BYU)
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- FARMS - Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (BYU)
- Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought - An independent quarterly covering history, religion, science and social issues.
- The Mormon History Association
- The Mormons - Frontline + American Experience four-hour PBS documentary aired April 1 - May 30, 2007
- Articles with dead external links from June 2008
- Articles to be merged from October 2007
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